1. Can you recommend the correct language to use when advertising a school approved for the training of veterans and other eligible persons?

The advertising must not be "erroneous, deceptive, or misleading by actual statement, omission, or imitation." {CFR 21.4252 (h) (1) and 21.4254 (c) (10)}  If it is, the SAA cannot award approval.  Rather than saying a school or program is "VA Approved", samples of correct statements are:

"Approved for Veterans Benefits by the State Approving Agency" or "Approved for veterans training"

Although the VA issues payments to the veteran students, it is the Bureau of State Approving for Veterans Training that approves the school to train veterans and other eligible persons.  TOP

2. Is the school Certifying Official required to monitor veteran students' attendance?

Yes. Moreover, academic progress needs to be monitored, too. If a veteran student violates either the attendance policy or the standards of (academic) progress policy approved by the State Approving Agency, the Certifying Official has 30 days to take the action specified in the policy and report the violation to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  TOP

3. Do schools have to give credit for all previous education and training?

No, but schools must adhere to the following policy:

  A veteran student must report all previous education and training.  Schools must evaluate and grant credit, if  appropriate**, with training time and tuition reduced proportionately with the VA and veteran student notified.

**The school evaluates and determines what previous education and training is appropriate for transfer. (The reasonable application of common sense is encouraged by your friendly SAA.)  TOP

4. What is the difference between the SAA and the VA?

The SAA approves specific schools and programs.  The VA pays veterans to attend SAA approved schools and programs.

LBA (Long Bureaucratic Answer):
The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA) is the state agency charged with the responsibility for administering state programs for veterans, including the State Approving Agency (SAA).   The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is charged with the responsibility for administering federal programs for veterans nationwide.

The St. Petersburg Education Services Office, under the administrative supervision of the Regional Processing Office is the federal office with the responsibility for veterans and federal veterans' programs in Florida.  TOP